Method and system for imposing print data

Abstract

A method, system and computer program provides for making an image area correction in a printing system. Print data is provided in a logical page order corresponding to at least one signature for printing. At least one parameter of a recording medium on which the print data are printed is determined, this parameter being relevant to the position of the printing format on the recording medium, which is folded according to the signature. The position of the pages is then corrected according to this parameter prior to printing, in such a way that the print formats of successive pages of the finished signature are positioned accurately.

1. A computer-implemented method for signature-by-signature editing of print data, the method being performed by a computer executing a computer program having a data structure stored on a tangible computer readable medium, comprising the steps of:
 editing the print data for printing on a web-shaped recording medium in a logical page sequence corresponding to at least one signature, said at least one signature forming a section of a printed product and including a plurality of pages; 
 defining at least one parameter of said recording medium on which the print data are printed and that is relevant for a position of a print image on the recording medium folded in signatures; 
 implementing a position correction of the respective print image on the pages before printing dependent on said at least one parameter; and 
 computationally simulating folds of said recording medium needed for producing said at least one signature with assistance of the computer program so that the print images of successive pages of the folded signature lie exactly registered above one another, the folds ensue in two directions perpendicular to one another, and said position correction ensues in the two directions perpendicular to one another, the print data being provided on said recording medium, said step of computationally simulating performing simulating of the folds of the signature for said position correction; and 
 calculating correction values for the print image of a page from an influence of each fold on a print image of at least one page; 
 said simulating step simulating the folds for said position correction page-by-page with ascending or descending page number, and 
 forming pairs of successive page numbers that due to the signatures at least one of: come to lie on one another as a result of a fold, and between which a fold is provided due to the signature. 
 
   
   
     2. A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 carrying out a successive check out to see whether a physical fold of said recording medium is possible as a result whereof the pages of a page pair of successive pages are arranged in reading sequence after said recording medium is folded to form the signature; and 
 implementing a data-oriented fold when a fold is possible and entering the page pair in a list when a physical fold cannot be implemented. 
 
   
   
     3. A method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
 processing page pairs present in the list with priority over other page pairs until a non-foldable page pair in the list is processed. 
 
   
   
     4. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said parameter is a thickness of the recording medium. 
   
   
     5. A computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of computationally simulating folds includes simulating zig-zag folding of the web-shaped recording medium. 
   
   
     6. A computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said web-shaped recording medium is a continuous web of the recording medium as used in a web-fed printing system. 
   
   
     7. A printing system, comprising:
 at least one computer; and 
 a printer device connected to said at least one computer; 
 a computer program including a data structure stored on a tangible computer readable medium and executable by said at least one computer for implementing steps of:
 editing the print data for printing on a web-shaped recording medium in a logical page sequence corresponding to at least one signature, said at least one signature forming a section of a printed product and including a plurality of pages; 
 defining at least one parameter of said recording medium on which the print data are printed and that is relevant for a position of a print image on the recording medium folded in signatures; 
 implementing a position correction of the respective print image on the pages before printing dependent on said at least one parameter; and 
 computationally simulating folds of said recording medium needed for producing said at least one signature with assistance of the computer program so that the print images of successive pages of the folded signature lie exactly registered above one another, the folds ensue in two directions perpendicular to one another, said simulating folds being implemented page by page, and 
 
 said position correction ensues in the two directions perpendicular to one another, the print data being provided on said recording medium. 
 
   
   
     8. A printing system according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 at least one post-processing device that at least one of cuts and folds and binds said recording medium printed by said printer device to form a printed product. 
 
   
   
     9. A printing system according to  claim 8 , wherein binding ensues in signatures. 
   
   
     10. A computer program product including a computer program as a data structure stored on a tangible computer readable medium and executable on a computer for implementing steps of:
 editing the print data for printing on a web-shaped recording medium in a logical page sequence corresponding to at least one signature, said at least one signature forming a section of a printed product and including a plurality of pages; 
 defining at least one parameter of said recording medium on which the print data are printed and that is relevant for a position of a print image on the recording medium folded in signatures; 
 implementing a position correction of the respective print image on the pages before printing dependent on said at least one parameter; and 
 computationally simulating folds of said at least one sheet needed for producing said at least one signature with assistance of the computer program so that the print images of successive pages of the folded signature lie exactly registered above one another, the folds ensue in two directions perpendicular to one another, and said position correction ensues in the two directions perpendicular to one another, said simulating folds being implemented page by page in ascending or descending page sequence, the print data being provided on said recording medium. 
 
   
   
     11. A computer on which a computer program product stored on a tangible computer readable medium and having a data structure that is executable on the computer is loaded into the computer to perform the steps of:
 editing the print data for printing on a web-shaped recording medium in a logical page sequence corresponding to at least one signature, said at least one signature forming a section of a printed product and including a plurality of pages; 
 defining at least one parameter of said recording medium on which the print data are printed and that is relevant for a position of a print image on the recording medium folded in signatures; 
 implementing a position correction of the respective print image on the pages before printing dependent on said at least one parameter; and 
 computationally simulating folds of said recording medium needed for producing said at least one signature with assistance of the computer program so that the print images of successive pages of the folded signature lie exactly registered above one another, the folds ensue in two directions perpendicular to one another, and said position correction ensues in the two directions perpendicular to one another, said simulating folds being implemented page by page in ascending or descending page sequence, the print data being provided on said recording medium.